Extension couch



Aug. 10, 1937. 'R. A. FERGUSON EXTENSION COUCH Filed May 6, 1955 lmFul ii 7 Fic-iJ.

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INVENTOR I REGINALD mrmeusou B ATTORNEY -Patentecl Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION COUCH Delaware Application May 6, 1935, Serial No. 20,087

In Canada April 6, 1935 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ex- H tension couches or lounges and an object of the invention isto provide an extension couch or lounge having a back with or without arm rests readily movable to an inoperative position when the couch is extended. Another object is to provide a locking device for the couch sections which is substantially automatic in operation to unlock the sections when it is desired to extend the couch but which retains the couch sections locked together under other conditions. Various other objects and the advantages of the invention may be ascertained from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention consists in providing the outer movable section of an extension couch with a back pivotally connected to the ends of said outer section at a point approximately midway between the front and back of the section, the said back being adaptedto swing forward to inoperative position when the couch is to be extended and when so swung forward to be used as a handle for moving the outer section relatively to the inner section. The points of attachment of the back to the couch outer section are such that when the back is used as aforesaid, suflieient lifting effort is applied unconsciously to the couch section to initiate unlocking action of the locking mechation and are not limited to the conventional nism which normally connects the outer and inner couch sections when the couch is closed.

In greater detail the invention consists of the novel features and combinations of features herein described and disclosed in the accompanying drawing together with all such novel equivalents therefor and modifications thereof as are within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates that embodiment of the invention now preferred,

but to the details of which the invention is not confined,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an extension couch embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the couch on a reduced scale.

Fig. 318 an elevation of that form of locking mechanism now preferred.

Referring more particularly to the drawin II and I2 designate the frames of outer movable and inner stationary couch sections, respectively. These frames may be of any suitable construcmetal construction illustrated. The frames are provided with longitudinal members I3 and I4, respectively, which may be front rails, as illustrated, or may be otherwise disposed. A latching or locking means is mounted on one of said members I3 or I4 for engagement with the other to releasably lock the couch sections together in their closed or nested relation. This latching or looking may be, conveniently, an arm I5 rigidly connected to one of the members, for instance the member I3, and adapted to overlie the other of said members, I4, and provided with a roller IB adapted to engage that edge of the member 10 I6 which is remote from the member I3, the roller being preferably so located that its axis is on a level with or slightly above the point of contact with the frame member IA. Any other suitable formof locking mechanism may be used. 15

The couch is provided with a back of any suitable construction pivotally connected to the outer moving section I I. The most simple form of back is illustrated and comprises a horizontal member I! and end members I8 rigidly connected to the member I1 and pivotally connected to the ends 20 of the frame II approximately midway between the front and back thereof, as by means of studs shown at I9. According to the present invention the back end members are preferably curved so that the lower portions thereof are only slightly inclined with reference to the top rails 20 of the ends of the frame I I. The connection between the back ends I8 and the frame ends is preferably by means of brackets 2| bolted or riveted to the end top rails 20 and carrying the 30 studs I9 which support the back ends. The lower edges of the brackets are provided with outwardly projecting flanges 22 on which the back ends may 'rest when the back is in use as such.

- The studs I9 engage the backends some distance 35 from the ends thereof, as shown, and the adjacent portions of the flanges 22 are downturned I as at 23 to form stops for engagement by the lower portions of the back ends to prevent excessive forward movement of the back. 0

The back ends may be provided with arm rests of any suitable form as indicated at 24.

If the couch frame II is provided with upholstery boards at the ends, as shown at 25, these are interposed between the brackets 2| and the 45 frame end rails 20 and the brackets are bolted or riveted through the upholstery boards to the end rails so as to obtain the desired rigidity of attachment.

When the couch is to be opened, the back is swung forward from its normal position indicated by broken lines to the position indicated by full lines, Fig. 1, and is used as a handle to draw the outer couch section forward. In this operation the operator unconsciously applies a certain lifting effort to the outer couch section sufficient to enable the roller I6 to ride over the front rail of the stationary section I2 and thereby unlock the sections. This efiect is believed to result from the moving force being applied in substantially the direction of the arrow 26 and produces an apparently efiortless, automatic unlocking of the couch sections. If a horizontal pull is applied to the couch, as indicated by the arrow 21 the sections are unlocked with difflculty or not at all, depending'on the location of the roller with reference to the rail I4.

When the locking mechanism is at the front I The arrangement herein described, in addition to providing a novel combination of outer moving couch section and back pivoted thereto provides an automatic unlocking means which avoids the necessity of stooping and lifting the front of the outer section or of specially manipulating the locking means while drawing out the couch section, as is customary,

claim is:

1. An extension couch comprising an outer movablesection, an inner stationary section, a roller carried by one of said sections and adapted to over-ride a portion of the other section and engage the same with locking effect when the couch is closed and a. back pivotally connected to said outer section and adapted for movement to a position in which it may be used to draw out the outer section and to simultaneously apply such lifting force to'theoutersection as will initiate disengaging movement of the roller and the section engaged thereby.

2. An extension couch comprising an outermovable section, an inner stationary section, looking means carried by one of said-sections and engageable with the other section to releasably secure the sections in their closed relation and capable of releasing said sections by a lifting action of the movable section, and a back pivotally connected to said outer section and movable to an inoperative position to form a handle for applying lifting eifort to the outer section to actuate said locking means and for withdrawing said outer section. 1

3. An extension, couch comprising an outer movable section, an inner stationary section, looking means carried by an edge portion of one of the sections and engageable with the corresponding edge portion'of the other section to releasably. securethe sections in their closed relation and capable of releasing said sections by a lifting action of the movable section, and a back pivotal- 1y connected to the outer section and movable to a forward position to form a handle for applying lifting effort to the outer section to release said locking means and for withdrawing said outer section.

4. A couch comprising a seat carrying section, a back including a longitudinal member and end members having forwardly extending substantially horizontal lower portions pivotally connected to said section at points spaced from the ends 1 of said end members, supports on said section engageable by said end members between the pivotalpoints and the longitudinal member to support the back in operative position, and further supports engageable by said end members between the pivotal points and the ends of the members Having thus described my invention what I:

to support the backin forward inoperative position.

5. An extension couch comprising normally telescoped inner and outer sections, the inner section being normally stationary and the outer section being transversely movable substantially horizontally to extended position relative to said inner section so as to be adapted to cooperate with the latter to form a bed of superior size, and a back comprising a longitudinal member and supporting upstanding end members rigidly connected to said longitudinal member, said end members having their' lower ends mounted on said movable section so as to permit swinging movement of said longitudinal member forwardly of the outer section to a position clear of the sleeping surface thereof, said longitudinal member, when in a forward position, constituting a handle for facilitating forward movement of said outer section.

6. An extension couch comprising normally telescoped inner and outer sections, the inner section being normally stationary and the outer section being-transversely movable substantially horizontally to extended position relative to said inner section so as to be adapted to cooperate with the latter to form a bed of superior size, a back including a longitudinal member spaced from said outer section and endmembers connected to said longitudinal member and pivotally connected to said outer section at points substantially spaced from the front and rear edges of said section, said longitudinal member being thereby adapted to be swung to a position forwardly of the outer section and clear of the sleeping surface thereof and constituting a handle for drawing said outer section forwardly, and

7 means for supporting said back in normal back with the latter. to form a bed of superior size, a

back including 'a top rail member spaced from said outersection and endmembers rigidly secured to the rafl member and pivotally connected to the outer section at points substantially spaced from the front and rear edges of said section, said top rail member being thereby adapted to be swung to a position forwardly of the outer sectionand clear of the sleeping surface thereof and constituting a handle for drawing said outer section forwardly, and means for supporting said back in normalback position.

-8. An extension couch comprising normally telescoped inner and outer sections, the inner section being normally stationary and the outer section being transversely movable substantially horizontally to extended position relative to said inner section so as to be adapted to cooperate withthe latter to form a bed of superior size, a back including a longitudinal member spaced from said outer section'and end members connected to said longitudinal member and pivotally connected to said outer section at points substantially centrally between the front and rear edges thereof, said longitudinal member being thereby adapted to be swung to a position forwardly of the outer section and clear of the sleeping surface thereof and constituting a handle for drawing said outer section forwardly, and means for supporting said back in normal beck position.

9. An extension couch comprising normally telescoped inner and outer sections, the inner section being normally stationary and the outer section being transversely movable substantially horizontally to extended position relative to said inner section so as to be adapted to cooperate with the latter to form a bed of superior size, a uack including a longitudinal member spaced from said outer section and end members con- 10 nected to said longitudinal member and pivotally 

